The Evolution of Chemical Sensors in Medical Diagnostics: New Materials, Modalities, and Applications

Document Type : Review Articles

Authors

1 Ministry of National Guard, Saudi Arabia

2 King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Medical diagnostics is being revolutionized by relentless technological progress in chemical sensing technologies. The years 2020-2024 have been especially transformative, driven by the global COVID-19 pandemic that underscored the imperative importance of rapid, sensitive, decentralized, and inexpensive diagnostic devices. This overview integrates the latest advances in chemical sensors for healthcare applications, such as the creation of biosensing platforms, integration of new nanomaterials, wearable and implantable form factor development, and the convergence of these sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. We begin with an overview of recognition component advances that form the basis of sensor specificity, including antibodies, aptamers, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), and CRISPR-Cas systems. We then examine the transduction mechanisms—electrochemical, optical, and piezoelectric—which have been enhanced for improved sensitivity and miniaturization. A special section highlights the leading role of nanomaterials such as graphene, MXenes, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and quantum dots for signal amplification and new sensing modalities. The review then ventures into the breakthrough area of implantable and wearable sensors for real-time molecular monitoring of biomarkers from sweat, interstitial fluid, and tears, relocating diagnostics from the clinic to point-of-care and even the home. We also cover the emerging trend of multiplexed sensors and lab-on-a-chip platforms for full panels of biomarkers. AI and machine learning applications in data analysis, sensor calibration, and predictive diagnostics are also explored in depth. Finally, we cover existing challenges and future prospects, including regulatory hurdles, biocompatibility, long-term stability, and the path to commercial translation. This review will strive to provide a state-of-the-art overview of chemical sensors, emphasizing their unprecedented potential to revolutionize personalized medicine, remote monitoring of patients, and worldwide public health.

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Egyptian Journal of Chemistry
Volume 68, Issue 13 - Serial Number 13
In Loving Memory of Late Professor Doctor”Zeinab M. Nofal”
December 2025
Pages 1365-1371

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 21 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 25 October 2025

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